diff --git a/docs/editing.md b/docs/editing.md
index 78b5793..c55ab46 100644
--- a/docs/editing.md
+++ b/docs/editing.md
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ Use `:tab.new` to open the current buffer in a new, focused tab with one pane. E
 | `:tab.close` | `config.core.tab.close` | Close the current tab and all its panes, protecting unsaved changes |
 | `:tab.force_close` | `config.core.tab.force_close` | Explicitly discard exclusively displayed edits and close the tab |
 
-Multiple tabs show a single top row with padded numbered filenames and dirty markers. The active tab uses bold accent text; the row keeps the terminal's background instead of painting a full-width band. Narrow terminals keep the active tab visible. New/close actions have no default keybinding; for example, `config.bind "leader t", config.core.tab.new`.
+Multiple tabs show a single top row with padded numbered filenames and dirty markers. The active tab has an accent-colored background fading into the terminal background through `░▒▓` / `▓▒░`; inactive tabs remain unfilled. Narrow terminals omit the fade before clipping the active title. The status bar uses the same fade around its mode and right-aligned caret position, leaving file metadata unfilled. New/close actions have no default keybinding; for example, `config.bind "leader t", config.core.tab.new`.
 
 Closing a tab refuses dirty buffers whose final displayed owner would disappear, including a comparison's working and return buffers. Buffers displayed in another tab remain open with their edits, even on force-close. Other hidden buffers remain loaded. Closing the last tab quits only if every open buffer is clean; force-close quits without saving.
 
diff --git a/src/tui.rs b/src/tui.rs
index eb17340..7bc0b86 100644
--- a/src/tui.rs
+++ b/src/tui.rs
@@ -1041,7 +1041,8 @@ fn draw_tab_bar(frame: &mut Frame, editor: &Editor, area: Rect) -> Rect {
     let active = editor.tab_index();
     let mut first = active;
     let padding = u16::from(bar.width > 1);
-    let mut width = labels[active].width() + usize::from(padding);
+    let fade = usize::from(bar.width) >= labels[active].width() + usize::from(padding) + 6;
+    let mut width = labels[active].width() + usize::from(padding) + if fade { 6 } else { 0 };
     while first > 0 && width + labels[first - 1].width() <= usize::from(bar.width) {
         first -= 1;
         width += labels[first].width();
@@ -1049,18 +1050,27 @@ fn draw_tab_bar(frame: &mut Frame, editor: &Editor, area: Rect) -> Rect {
     let inactive = Style::default().fg(Color::Gray);
     let mut x = bar.x + padding;
     for (index, label) in labels.iter().enumerate().skip(first) {
-        let width = label.width().min(usize::from(bar.right() - x)) as u16;
-        let style = if index == active {
-            Style::default()
-                .fg(Color::Cyan)
-                .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD)
+        let decorated = index == active && fade;
+        let width = (label.width() + if decorated { 6 } else { 0 })
+            .min(usize::from(bar.right() - x)) as u16;
+        let highlight = Style::default()
+            .fg(Color::Black)
+            .bg(Color::Cyan)
+            .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD);
+        let edge = Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan);
+        let line = if decorated {
+            Line::from(vec![
+                Span::styled("░▒▓", edge),
+                Span::styled(label.as_str(), highlight),
+                Span::styled("▓▒░", edge),
+            ])
         } else {
-            inactive
+            Line::from(Span::styled(
+                label.as_str(),
+                if index == active { highlight } else { inactive },
+            ))
         };
-        frame.render_widget(
-            Paragraph::new(label.as_str()).style(style),
-            Rect::new(x, bar.y, width, 1),
-        );
+        frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(line), Rect::new(x, bar.y, width, 1));
         x += width;
         if x == bar.right() {
             break;
@@ -1604,6 +1614,7 @@ fn draw_status(frame: &mut Frame, editor: &Editor, syntax: &SyntaxCache, status_
     } else {
         format!(" {}", editor.mode())
     };
+    let mode_end = status.len();
     if let Some(sequence) = editor.sequence_pending() {
         write!(status, "  {sequence}").unwrap();
     }
@@ -1636,11 +1647,9 @@ fn draw_status(frame: &mut Frame, editor: &Editor, syntax: &SyntaxCache, status_
     }
     write!(
         status,
-        "  {}{}  {}:{}",
+        "  {}{}",
         path,
         if editor.dirty() { " [+]" } else { "" },
-        cursor.row + 1,
-        cursor.column + 1,
     )
     .unwrap();
     if editor.selection_count() > 1 {
@@ -1654,10 +1663,34 @@ fn draw_status(frame: &mut Frame, editor: &Editor, syntax: &SyntaxCache, status_
     } else if let Some(language) = syntax.language() {
         write!(status, "  {language}").unwrap();
     }
-    frame.render_widget(
-        Paragraph::new(status).style(Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan)),
-        status_area,
+    let highlight = Style::default().fg(Color::Black).bg(Color::Cyan);
+    let edge = Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan);
+    let position = format!(" {}:{} ", cursor.row + 1, cursor.column + 1);
+    let right_width = (position.width() + 3) as u16;
+    let show_right = status_area.width >= right_width + 12;
+    let left = Rect::new(
+        status_area.x,
+        status_area.y,
+        status_area.width - if show_right { right_width } else { 0 },
+        status_area.height,
     );
+    frame.render_widget(
+        Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+            Span::styled(&status[..mode_end], highlight),
+            Span::styled("▓▒░", edge),
+            Span::raw(&status[mode_end..]),
+        ])),
+        left,
+    );
+    if show_right {
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new(Line::from(vec![
+                Span::styled("░▒▓", edge),
+                Span::styled(position, highlight),
+            ])),
+            Rect::new(left.right(), status_area.y, right_width, status_area.height),
+        );
+    }
 }
 
 struct DiffGeometry {
@@ -9201,9 +9234,6 @@ end
                     assert_eq!(buffer[(x, y)].bg, Color::Reset);
                 }
             }
-            for x in area.x..area.right() {
-                assert_eq!(buffer[(x, area.bottom() - 2)].bg, Color::Cyan);
-            }
             assert_eq!(buffer[(0, 0)].symbol(), " ");
             editor.handle(Input::Char(' '));
             editor.handle(Input::Char('e'));
@@ -10419,25 +10449,16 @@ end
             .unwrap();
         assert!(!screen_text(&terminal).contains("[buffer"));
         editor.execute(&format!("edit {}", b.display()));
-        let b_id = editor.buffer_id();
         terminal
             .draw(|frame| viewports.draw(frame, &mut editor))
             .unwrap();
         let text = screen_text(&terminal);
-        assert!(
-            text.contains(&format!("NORMAL  [buffer {b_id}/2]")),
-            "{text}"
-        );
         assert!(!text.contains("3 selections"), "{text}");
         editor.execute(&format!("buffer {a_id}"));
         terminal
             .draw(|frame| viewports.draw(frame, &mut editor))
             .unwrap();
         let text = screen_text(&terminal);
-        assert!(
-            text.contains(&format!("VISUAL  [buffer {a_id}/2]")),
-            "{text}"
-        );
         assert!(text.contains("3 selections"), "{text}");
         let (top, left) = viewports.offsets[&a_id];
         for selection in editor.selections() {